, 1887-05-29
aePueLlcANlsM IN ENGLAND.
The Queen as n Figure Head-A Tory.
Frank Admission-Taration

he Queen as n Figure Head-A Tory.
IL Frank Admission-Taxation.
England is a republic in everything
but mere name,' said n prominent busi-
aess man "a Tory TO me the other day.
The people rule here more thar in the
United States. Our government is more
sensitive to the influence OF public opinion
nan yours. We simply have a perpetual
snlet executive, that is all. That is better
than your way of constant change. II
eosts no more to sustain our royal family
than 1t does you to pay your president
when you reckon the cost OF your presi-
Genital elections. Your pension list *.
eeeds the cost of our army. L think Won
VIII ind our form of government as
economical as yours, while, to come to my
main point, 1t is more of a republic, In
Jlat the Will OF the people has more con
liol than in the United States"
What Influence has the queen upon the
administration of affairss'
None at oil She might have; she has
me authority to veto acts of parliament,
out she never does. I think It would be
2 great advantage to us to nave q kin
with a clear head and q determined mind,
who would, upon proper occasions, veto
acts OF parliament That would be o wise
check upon the unlimited power of the
house OF commons. 1t selects the mem
~ - SSibiitt anu Inc queen merely
registers its decree. The house of com
mons is the administration"
Does the house of lords act as a check
upon the houscS"
"Only to the extent OF making IL at
times exercise a deliberate second thought.
The house Of lords may reject a house
bill, but it has never been known to stand
put against q measure that the house of
commons insists upon"
This Tory gentleman may be right
about certain features of advantage about
the English form of government, but a
close examination Will show that the ad-
Santages are not all on his side. However
influential public sentiment may be In
England, IL is very slow to awaken. 1t is
harder to bring about a change OF any
Kind in England and secure the adoption
d anything new than In any country in
the world. The laws there for many CEN
cures have been made in the interests of
the rich and the property owners, and to
secure a change in these laws Is now as
lihicult as ii they were not oppressive to
she majority. For instance, one of the
most notable cases of this kind of legisla-
ton was called to my mind the other day
turing q visit to q gentleman who o us q
place In the country. 1t is not VI " far
out OF London, through a stretch If coun-
try which has been built up with suburban
houses 70 n great extent during the last
Nv years. This reaching out of the city
in his direction has made fortunes for
many owners of land. But 1t has brought
the greatest profits to those who have
done the least to secure the improve
ments. The laws are so shaped as to dis
courage improvement. Property unim-
proved is not taxed. But the moment an
owner begins to improve that property,
whether by building or cultivation, the
tax collector begins to hammer at his
tloor. In this very neighborhood a titled
land owner held a large piece of property,
upon which he had nothing but a shoot
ing box. He left his ground untouched
and SO escaped taxation, while the taxed
people built up about him, increasing the
value of his untaxed property fftyfold.-
London Cor. New York World.